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# OpenTally
OpenTally is an application for counting various preferential voting elections, with an academic focus, and emphasis on configurability.
OpenTally may be used in a number of different ways:
* as an online web application, no installation or special software required
* as a standalone command line application
* as a Rust library within another application
## Features
OpenTally accepts data in the [BLT file format ](https://yingtongli.me/git/OpenTally/about/docs/blt.md ), and can count votes using:
* weighted inclusive Gregory STV (e.g. [Scottish STV ](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/399/schedule/1/made ))
* unweighted inclusive Gregory STV (e.g. [Australian Senate STV ](https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020C00400/Html/Text#_Toc59107700 ))
* exclusive Gregory STV (e.g. [PRSA 1977 ](https://www.prsa.org.au/rule1977.htm ) and [ERS97 ](https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/latest-news-and-research/publications/how-to-conduct-an-election-by-the-single-transferable-vote-3rd-edition/ ))
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* [Meek STV ](http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.NSF/Files/meekm/%24file/meekm.pdf ) – tree-packed ballots ](http://www.votingmatters.org.uk/ISSUE21/I21P1.pdf ) for efficient computation
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* [Wright STV ](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=em/elect07/subs/sub051.1.pdf )
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OpenTally is highly customisable, including options for:
* different quotas and quota rules (e.g. exact Droop, Hare)
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* calculations using fixed-point arithmetic, guarded fixed-point ([quasi-exact](http://www.votingmatters.org.uk/ISSUE24/I24P2.pdf)) or exact rational numbers
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* different tie breaking rules (backwards, random, manual) with auditable deterministic random number generation
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* multiple constraints (e.g. affirmative action rules)
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* equal rankings
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## Online usage
After preparing the [BLT file ](https://yingtongli.me/git/OpenTally/about/docs/blt.md ), open the web UI. Select the BLT file, and click *Count* . OpenTally will count the election and display the results in a count sheet.
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By clicking *Show advanced options* , you can customise the options used for the count. A detailed explanation of the various options can be found [here ](/opentally/docs/options.html ).
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Once the count is complete, you can click *Print result* to generate a printable result report.
## Command line usage
OpenTally may also be invoked as a command line application. Run `./opentally --help` to view help.
For example, run `./opentally stv path/to/blt_file.blt --ties backwards random --random-seed foobar` .
